Environmental Protection Division

The Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD) works to protect Washingtonians and our environment by bringing affirmative civil and criminal litigation on behalf of the state under the Attorney General’s independent authority. Attorney General Ferguson has made environmental protection a priority of his administration. Since 2013, he has brought environmental crimes prosecutions leading to over 50 criminal convictions and over $6 million in fines, penalties and restitution orders. The Environmental Protection Division also engages in significant civil litigation under state and federal law, targeting activities that place human health and the environment at risk. Those lawsuits have resulted in over $95 million in recoveries to help Washingtonians and our environment, including supporting continued environmental protection work in the Attorney General’s Office.

Under state law, the Attorney General appoints an Assistant Attorney General from the Environmental Protection Division to serve as Counsel for the Environment, representing the public and its interest in protecting the environment when it comes to proposed developments of large, non-hydro energy facilities in Washington State.